The Question Box. 47 



circumstances. A cow will drink from 75 to 125 pounds of water 

 daily, if she has a chance to take it when she wants it; but, if 

 she is turned out in zero weather, she will not drink half the quan- 

 tity she needs or requires. 



Question. — Please explain the feeding value of gluten meal 

 fed for dairy food and milk produce and protein? 



Mr. Smith said that gluten meal contained about 34: per cent, of 

 protein, gluten feed, 27 per cent, and corn bran, 10 per cent. ; but 

 the latter costs too much for the price. When you buy any of 

 these prepared foods, insist on a guaranteed analysis, and do not 

 pay too much for them. 



Question. — Can sorghum be raised for fodder in this locality 

 — Steuben county ? 



Mr. Woodward. — It may be, but it will never pay a man to grow 

 it who can grow corn. Not so much may be grown on an acre. I 

 tried it once and found it did not do me any good. 



Question. — How is bran, corn meal and ground oats, if mixed 

 in equal parts, for 'cows? 



Mr. Woodward. — It would depend on the coarse fodder the cattle 

 are getting. If ensilage or timothy hay or straw is fed, no corn 

 meal should be fed. If clover is fed, and the ensilage is not rich 

 enough in corn, feed some corn meal. The other foods named are 

 all right. 



Question. — Give a ration for dry cows. 



Mr. Smith. — A cow weighing 1,000 pounds, not giving milk, 

 requires a ration containing one pound of protein per day to 

 keep up her normal condition. If she gives milk, more protein 

 should be added, because the cow must have protein to produce 

 milk, and it must be a quantity in excess of her daily needs. Two- 

 thirds of the food is needed to repair waste tissues. The other 

 third to supply additional requirements. The ratio should be 

 about one part of digestible protein to five of carbohydrates, those 

 foods which are fattening. 



Question. — Will millet take the place of good hay for milch 

 cows ? 



Dr. Smead. — Millet, when cut at the proper time, which is 

 just as it is heading out, has a ratio of about 1 to 10, while tim- 

 othy has 1 to 11 ; so that is better than timothy. But the millet 

 must be cut before it goes to seed, else it will become hard and 

 woody. 



Question.- — Which variety is best, the German or Hungarian 

 millet? 



